Adjustable link



Dec. 12, 1944. A. J. @RE 2,364,968

ADJU-S TABLE LI NK Filed Nov. 12, 1945 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE LINK Albert J. Gore, Washington, D. 0. Application November 12, 1943, Serial No. 510,083 (01. 287-77) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable links and more particularly to links that may be adjusted to any desired length and when so adjusted will withstand any desired pressure or tension in either direction.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a link of the above character which willbe of simple and practical construction and easy to manufacture by automatic machinery.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character which may be easily adjusted to any desired length with the assurance that it will remain at that length under stress in either direction.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character which may be easily manufactured and installed as desired in a variety of places in a manner similar to a turnbuckle now in extensive use.

Other objects will be in part obvious from "the annexed drawing and .in part thereinafter indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts, and in the unique relation of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art fully to comprehend the underlying features of this in vention, that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by the invention, drawing depicting some preferred embodiment of the invention forming a part of this disclosure, and in such drawing like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of the device in locked position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of thesame parts in released position ready to be adjusted.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the right-hand part as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same part as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of a modified form of one part.

Fig. 6 illustrates a safety lock arrangement of the link.

Fig. 7 illustrates a diilerent safety lock modification.

In order that a clearer understanding of the present invention may be had let us assume that the present invention is applicable in any place where the usual turnbuckle may be employed and it is desired to position the adjustable link hereinafter described in a place and association to withstand any reasonable push or pull that may be exerted on the ends thereof. Obviously it is unnecessary to recite the uses\to which such an adjustable link might be put.

While the above figures do not illustrate any particular use, let us assume that the part Ill denotes one end of one part which may be shaped in any desired manner to best coact with one spaced member not shown which is adapted to be adjusted or coacting therewith relatively to another member not shown but connected as desired and necessary to end of the part II. Between the parts It and II is the adjustable connection indicated by the parts l2 and I3 of the link. For convenience these parts are made of wire of the desired size according to the use and strain to which the link is to be used.

Thepart I2 terminates in a series of wavelike formations l4 preferably all lyin in the same vertical plane as shown. These waves may be termed zig-zag.

The free end of the part i3 terminates in an elongated loop l5 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. That is, this loop is about twice as long as it is wide and for convenience of illustration in Fig. 3 the major axis is at right angles to the plane of the waves 14. Thus when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the minor axis of this hook engages any part of the wavelike portion 14 and resists pressure in either direction while if given a 90 turn then the minor axis of the loop I5 is at right angles to' the plane of the zigzag Figs. 2 and 4. The loop is then free to move in either directionto eifect the desired adjustment to the position at which the parts In and II are separated to the desired extent whereupon the parts It) and H are rotated relatively 90 or back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and the parts of the link are locked in the desired adjusted position to resist force in either direction.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modification that is, a swivel l6 of any desired style may be interposed in either part indicated by the numerals [2 or [3 Fig. 1, preferably the turnable part, at the places adjacent such lead lines to l3 in Fig. 1. That is, for example, the part I3 is divided into two parts Ba and l3b with the swivel I6 therebetween thus permitting these parts |3a and Hi) to be turned and perform the same function as though the part I3 were rotated an equal amount to turn the loop l5 whereby its the part I2 as shown.

Fig. 6, that is the part I3 may be depressed between the crests of any two adjacent zigzags I I which cause the parts in contact to bind at I1 to prevent further any chance of slippage between the effective ends I and II, Fig. 1 irrespective of the position of the loop I on the up or down-slant'of-an'y zigZagj-th-us insuring a positive lock' of the parts in any adjustdposition.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a further modification in which the part I2 as shown in Eigi l-is herein designated as I2a and the construction of that part is the same. Howeverjin'steadwf having a free end at the right as shown in Fig. 1 this is, continued back on itself like a hairpin and designated as I2b, the end of whichte'rminates in a hook or other fastening deviceengaging the end of the device II. I he purpose of this construction is positively to-prevent any change in-length of thepart I2a which might occur if an abnormal strain were exerted upon this part in either direction tending to compress or elongate the wave-like formation. lThe-cooperating part I3 is not shown but is" the same as in Fig. '1, forexample. H

Theoperation of the device is obvious from the above but it may be Stated -that'the adjustable link is-positioned betweenany two parts the relative positionof whichparts-is; to-be secured. such parts withthe link inthe-=position shown in Fig. 2-or Fig. 4 aremoved to-the desired separating distance Qandthen the; part III-or II turned effectively through 90 -until the long axis of the loop I5-is atright angles to the plane of the zigzags or waves I-(Eig. 3) whereupon any'movement in either direction; isprevented due to the binding action of; adjacent points in the two-parts of the adjustable links and to lock these parts in adjusted position, after which the part I3 may depressed: be-

tween any twoadjacent crests (Flig -6)- so that there is absolutely no" danger of-"s'lippagaunder any circumstances. his to beunde'rstood that thedevice may be used as a braceor tiebet'ween I major axis is in the plane of the zigzags ll of any two fixed parts and positioned at the desired length between such parts and then looked in such position in the manner above described.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical adjustable link well adapted to accomplish all of the objects and advantages herein set forth.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, byapplying current-knowledge, readily adapt it' for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairl constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

"I'claim:

l. An-adjustable link comprising two partsone of which includes a ser-iesof wave-like bends, and the other having --an elongated looped'end-engaging-said-bends, which when turned to -aposition in which when the minor axis-of theloop is transverseto the plane of thebends tends to bind thereby to prevent relative movement of the parts in either direction but when the major axis of the loop is in the plane of-the-bends permits the parts to move freely with respect to each other. H 2. An adjustable link comprising two parts one of'which includes a series of reverse bends in the same plane, and the other'having anelongated loop engaging said bends, which when turned in one position' tends to bind-thereby to prevent relative movement of the parts in either direction but when turned from such position permits the parts to move freely with respect to each other. '3.A device as set" forth in claim"? in which the portion with the bends is provided with an extension parallel with'the axis of the portion having the bends and-attached at its end to'the portion having 'the bends, thereby resistingany force tending to vary thesize of the bends.

" ERT J. GGRE. 

